Abdel Jelil Ahamat is a 2007-born talent who, for the last two years, has been one of Africa’s brightest football prodigies, showcasing great ability and growing shoulder to shoulder with the elites of his country, Niger Republic.
At just 17, Ahamat is already being called the future of Niger football and the next big thing in Africa. He carries the hopes of a nation, with many believing that within a couple of years he will play in one of Europe’s top-flight leagues.
Ahamat plays as a midfielder, predominantly operating as a central midfielder but capable of being deployed as both a defensive and attacking midfielder when required. He is the captain of Niger’s U-17 side, a member of the U-20s, and currently part of the Niger B team.
He featured in almost all of Niger’s matches at the recently concluded African Nations Championship, missing only the game against Uganda. In the opener against Algeria, Ahamat impressed many across the continent, completing 75% of his passes, winning 100% of his tackles, making two ball recoveries, two clearances, and winning 50% of his ground duels — a true testament to his stamina.
Against South Africa, he delivered an even stronger display, recording 80% pass accuracy, registering a touch in the opposition box that nearly led to a goal, while again maintaining a 100% success rate in both tackles and ground duels.
In the final match against Guinea, Ahamat showcased his ability to grow with each game. He completed 73% of his passes, delivered two progressive passes into the final third that could have resulted in assists, and successfully completed all his dribbles. Defensively, he was solid once again, making two recoveries and winning 100% of his ground duels.
Currently, Ahamat plays for Sportive de la Gendarmerie Nationale, where he is an integral part of the team’s setup. Standing at 1.73m, the 17-year-old has displayed traits that suggest the sky is the limit. Calm under pressure, with excellent ball control, precise passing, strong football IQ, and relentless pressing, he thrives as a midfield general — distributing play and breaking up opposition attacks when necessary.
His tactical fluidity and awareness make him adaptable to any formation and any manager, whether under Pep Guardiola’s possession-oriented style, Jürgen Klopp’s high-tempo pressing, or balanced systems like the 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 3-4-3, or 5-3-2.
With proper development at US Gendarmerie Nationale, Ahamat is on course to become a player fit for Europe. Clubs in Portugal, Belgium, and France could play a crucial role in his growth before he eventually makes the leap to the Premier League, with a side like Brighton seen as a perfect destination.